US 5,063,364 AGranted

C-, T- and S-switches that are mechanically operated by a rotary actuator

AssigneeCom Dev Ltd.

InventorPaul Y. Tsoi

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A microwave C-, T- or S-switch has an actuator of circular shape that is rotated by a suitable motor. Each conductor path of the switch contains a connector having two positions, one position connecting the conductor path and a second position interrupting the conductor path. The conductor paths and connectors are enclosed within a housing and a pin is mounted on each connector and extends outside of the housing through a suitable opening. Each pin is spring-mounted so that the conductor path is connected when the pin is depressed and interrupted when the pin is released. The actuator is shaped and mounted to override the pins, the actuator containing one or more ridges and one or more indentations. When a ridge overrides a pin, the pin is depressed and the conductor path is connected. When an indentation overrides a pin, the pin is released and the conductor path is interrupted. By properly arranging the size and location of ridges and indentations on the actuator, the conductor paths can be connected or interrupted simply by rotating the actuator through two or more positions. The switch achieves mass and volume savings over previous switches. Also, the switch is simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A microwave switch comprising an RF cavity housing, an actuator and power means for repositioning said actuator arranged as follows:

(a) said housing having at least two conductor paths interconnecting at least three ports, said housing also containing at least two pins, each pin having a separate connector thereon, one connector being located in each conductor path, each connector having two positions that are linearly displaced from one another;
(b) each connector connecting the conductor path in one position and interrupting the conductor path in another position;
(c) said housing having one opening therein for each pin, each opening being large enough for a pin to be spring-mounted therein, each pin being spring-mounted and having one end which is attached to that connector that is located immediately adjacent to that opening, said pin having another end being a free end, said free end being located outside of said housing when said pin is released, said spring-mounting tending to force said free end of said pin away from said housing, each pin having two distinct positions, a depressed position and a released position;
(d) said actuator being a rotary cam mounted outside said housing and connected to said power means so that said power means can rotate said cam to at least two predetermined positions, said cam having at least one ridge and at least one indentation located thereon, said at least one ridge and said at least one indentation being located so that when a ridge overrides a pin, said pin being depressed and when an indentation overrides a pin, said pin is released, said ridge and said indentation overriding said pins as said cam rotates;
said at least one ridge and said at least one indentation being co-ordinated with said power means so that appropriate conductor paths are connected and interrupted substantially at the same time, the cam, the power means, the springs, the pins and the connectors being the only movable components of the switch.

2 more elements

Abstract

Claims14